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In trying to decide how to approach these commentaries, I’m debating how far astray from the actual photograph to wander. I guess it’s like literary criticism (although this isn’t criticism, it’s appreciation, which is a whole ‘nother animal). Adhere only to the physical evidence (text, photo) without reference to biography or known information about subjects, settings, intentions, and creators? Or bring in reference to all of that CONTEXT and thereby expand the range of possible commentary?
Hmm. I think I’ll shoot for a middle ground on that. I’m not a man of extremes. I’ll provide some context for you to explore the creator’s intentions and other work.
Els Vanopstal is the photographer and you can follow the link to her tumblr and from there, like me, you can explore her website, flickr, etc. I love a lot of the work that I saw there. To the photo.
Of course, I’m bringing my own context and experience to every viewed image, and the first thing I thought of when I saw this was Jennifer Connelly. That’s a pleasant association in my mind and immediately I was open to the image. The color palette was the next thing I noticed. The graphic quality of the model’s body dividing the image in two, black below and gray above. And then the eye. Effectively, she has only the one eye as the other is shrouded and absorbed by the curtain of ebony hair that falls down the side of her face, and melts into the dark of the bed.
Like yesterday’s image, the gaze is certain and direct. The woman is obviously young and yet clearly a woman and not a girl, and so the associations are slightly different than yesterday’s image. The draping of the body across the bed (I assume …) and the frank look are sexual, but the lips are closed, and so it isn’t a wanton look. It’s not an obvious look. There is subtlety. There is room for ambiguity and interpretation by the viewer in the viewing of it.
I keep returning to the composition and color palette. Black, Gray, White, Skin, Lips, Eyes. Those are the colors. Yes, eyes are a color, lips are a color. And by centering her face above a long (for a square frame) black foreground, Els is reaching through the monitor and grabbing my own gaze from me. Look at this, look at this. I can’t help but look. I can’t look away.
I always find it very interesting to see how other people ‘read’ my images. I rarely get reviews this long though. Thank you!
Tags: 6x6 kodak portra mamiya photo portrait yaelle heywolfetone appreciation © Els Vanopstal mamiya c33 analog film
